Irrigation System Installation SWMS
This SWMS covers irrigation system installation activities, addressing the specific hazards, risk controls and safe work procedures required under WHS Regulation 2025. While not classified as high-ris
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Irrigation system installation covers the installation of irrigation systems that distribute water for landscape, garden and amenity watering — the pipework, sprinklers and drippers, valves, controllers and the connection to the water supply, including the backflow protection required where the irrigation connects to the drinking water supply. While individually lower-risk than many plumbing tasks, irrigation installation carries the requirement to protect the drinking water supply, the trenching to lay the pipework, electrical work for controllers and pumps, and manual handling. This document is written on the basis that the connection to the drinking water supply is made by a licensed plumber with backflow protection, and the trenching and electrical hazards are controlled.
Irrigation systems are connected to the water supply to AS/NZS 3500.1, the water services part of the plumbing and drainage standard, with backflow protection matched to the hazard, because an irrigation system — which can draw in chemicals, fertilisers and contaminated water — is a backflow hazard to the drinking water supply. The pipework is laid in shallow trenches controlled to the excavation Code of Practice, and controllers and pumps involve electrical work. This document coordinates the water-services-standard, backflow, trenching and electrical controls so the system is installed and the drinking water supply protected.
Hazards identified
9 hazards covered, sorted by priority.
Backflow of chemicals, fertilisers or contaminated water into the potable supply
Trench collapse and striking services where pipework is laid below ground
Electrocution, gas release or service damage where services are not located
Electric shock where controllers and pumps are connected without a licensed electrician
Contamination from unapproved materials at the drinking water connection
Musculoskeletal injury from materials and equipment
Water release from working on the charged supply
Backflow and exposure hazard from chemical injection systems
Trips and falls around shallow trenches and equipment
Control measures
Hierarchy-of-controls order: elimination → substitution → isolation → engineering → administrative → PPE.
- 1Engineering: connect the irrigation system to the drinking water supply to AS/NZS 3500.1 with backflow protection matched to the hazard, because irrigation is a backflow hazard, and use approved materials at the drinking water connection.
- 2Engineering: where a chemical or fertiliser injection system is fitted, provide the appropriate backflow protection for the elevated hazard, because injected chemicals increase the backflow hazard.
- 3Engineering: control the trenching to lay the pipework to the excavation Code of Practice with existing services located first, and a SWMS where the trench reaches the regulated depth.
- 4Administrative: have controllers and pumps connected electrically by a licensed electrician with the supply isolated, coordinating the plumbing and electrical work.
- 5Engineering: isolate the water supply before connection and manage the water release, and use mechanical aids for materials where required.
- 6Administrative: commission the system and confirm the backflow protection and the drinking water connection are correct, with the backflow device field tested where it is a testable device.
- 7Administrative: confirm the connection is leak-free and the supply protected before the system is placed in service.
- 8Administrative: ensure the work is carried out and certified by an appropriately licensed plumber or gasfitter under the relevant state or territory plumbing and gasfitting licensing scheme, with a compliance certificate issued where required.
- 9Administrative: all workers must hold a valid White Card (General Construction Induction Training, CPCCWHS1001) before entering any construction workplace, with the plumbing, gasfitting and any confined space competencies and licences required for the work.
- 10Administrative: conduct a daily pre-start toolbox talk covering the day's work, identified hazards, isolations, required PPE and emergency procedures, and record attendance in the consultation section.
- 11Administrative: consult workers and any health and safety representatives on the work and its risks, record the consultation, and keep this document available at the workplace.
- 12PPE: eye protection to AS/NZS 1337.1, hearing protection where required, gloves appropriate to the task, and Class I or Class II safety footwear with protective toecap to AS/NZS 2210.3.
- 13Administrative: review and update this SWMS whenever the work scope changes, after any incident or near miss, when a worker or health and safety representative raises a concern, when new hazards are identified, or at minimum every 12 months.
Applicable Codes of Practice
The water services standard for the connection of the irrigation system to the drinking water supply and the backflow protection.
The materials, design and performance of the backflow protection for the irrigation connection.
Trenching and excavation controls including support against collapse, ground assessment and existing services.
The risk management process and hierarchy of controls applied to the hazards of the work.
Who this is for
- →Licensed plumbers making the drinking water connection and backflow protection for irrigation.
- →Irrigation installers fitting pipework, sprinklers and controllers.
- →Landscaping and irrigation businesses installing watering systems.
- →Property owners, councils and PCBUs commissioning irrigation systems.
- →PCBU safety managers and supervisors coordinating the backflow, trenching and electrical controls.
What you receive
- ✓Editable Microsoft Word document (.docx) fully compatible with Microsoft Word 2016 and newer, Google Docs, and LibreOffice Writer.
- ✓Title page with editable fields for PCBU name, ABN, site address, project name, principal contractor details, and document revision date.
- ✓Hazard register with the irrigation system installation hazards — each with a documented consequence, inherent risk rating on a 5x5 likelihood-consequence matrix, hierarchy-of-control measures, and residual risk rating.
- ✓Irrigation installation prompts referencing AS/NZS 3500.1, a backflow-protection and drinking-water-connection section, a trenching and existing-services section, and an electrical-coordination and commissioning record.
- ✓Licensing and compliance-certificate prompts for the relevant plumbing and gasfitting scheme, and a respiratory protection selection and fit-test record per AS/NZS 1715 where relevant.
- ✓Worker consultation record per the model WHS Act consultation duty and a worker sign-on register (blank, expandable).
- ✓Applicable legislation and Codes of Practice schedule pre-populated for the model WHS jurisdiction with a state-variance reference table covering the harmonised states, plus Victoria.
- ✓Emergency procedure template and a revision log.
Worked example
A licensed plumber and an irrigation installer are engaged to install an irrigation system for a landscaped commercial site, connected to the drinking water supply with a fertiliser injection system. Because irrigation is a backflow hazard, and the fertiliser injection increases that hazard, the connection to the drinking water supply is made by the licensed plumber to AS/NZS 3500.1 with backflow protection matched to the elevated hazard, and approved materials used at the connection. The pipework is laid in shallow trenches with existing services located first and the trenching controlled to the excavation Code of Practice. The controller and pump are connected electrically by a licensed electrician with the supply isolated. The water supply is isolated before connection and the water release managed. The system is commissioned, the backflow protection and the drinking water connection confirmed correct, and the testable backflow device field tested. The connection is confirmed leak-free and the supply protected. The plumber issues the compliance certificate for the connection and the records are retained.
Related legislation
- Model Work Health and Safety Act — primary duty of care; the duty to consult workers; the reckless-conduct offence; and notifiable-incident provisions, as enacted in each jurisdiction.
- Model Work Health and Safety Regulations — Section 291 high risk construction work and the SWMS preparation and review duties, and the confined space and excavation provisions where applicable, as enacted in each jurisdiction.
- The relevant plumbing and drainage standards AS/NZS 3500 (Parts 0–5), AS 2118 for fire sprinklers, AS 2419.1 for fire hydrants, AS 2896 for medical gas, and, for gas, AS/NZS 5601.1:2022 and AS/NZS 1596, are called up by the state and territory plumbing and gas safety legislation, together with the requirements of the relevant network utility or authority.
- Plumbing and gasfitting work is licensed under each state and territory's plumbing and gasfitting licensing scheme, with compliance certification required for notifiable work.
- Victoria operates under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 and the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017, with the high risk construction work, confined space and excavation provisions applying in place of the model instruments.
Frequently asked questions
Why does irrigation need backflow protection?
An irrigation system is a backflow hazard to the drinking water supply because it can draw in chemicals, fertilisers, soil and contaminated water that must not flow back into the potable supply. Backflow protection matched to the hazard is provided at the connection to the drinking water supply, with a higher level of protection where a chemical or fertiliser injection system increases the hazard.
Who connects the irrigation to the drinking water supply?
The connection to the drinking water supply is licensed plumbing work carried out by a licensed plumber to AS/NZS 3500.1, with the backflow protection and approved materials. The irrigation pipework, sprinklers and controllers may be installed by an irrigation installer, but the drinking water connection and backflow protection are plumbing work.
What if the irrigation has a chemical or fertiliser injector?
Where a chemical or fertiliser injection system is fitted, the backflow hazard is elevated because injected chemicals could flow back into the drinking water supply, so the appropriate higher-level backflow protection is provided for that elevated hazard. The injection system increases the consequence of a backflow, so the protection is matched to it.
What trenching controls apply to irrigation?
The pipework is laid in trenches with existing underground services located and protected first, and the trenching controlled to the excavation Code of Practice, with a SWMS where the trench reaches the regulated depth. Irrigation trenches are usually shallow, but services are still located and the excavation controlled to prevent strikes and collapse.
Who connects the controller and pump?
Controllers and pumps are connected electrically by a licensed electrician with the supply isolated, coordinating the plumbing and electrical work, because it is electrical work. The irrigation and plumbing work is carried out by the installer and plumber, and the electrical connection is carried out by the appropriate licensed electrical practitioner.